Photographs, route description and map of Cathkin Braes Country Park on the South Side of Glasgow

Route Map for Cathkin Braes Country Park

CATHKIN BRAES - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Glasgow
Map: OS Land ranger 64
[GR 610579]
Distance: 4.5miles [7.5km]
Time: 2 hours
Terrain: paths, muddy in places

Forming part of the high ground surrounding Glasgow to the south, Cathkin Braes offers a spectacular panorama over the city with views from the peaks of Arran to the southern highlands.
At the eastern end of the braes’ rocky escarpment is Queen Mary’s Seat from where Mary Stuart is said to have watched the Battle of Langside in 1568.
The Braes form a country park easily approached from the large car park in Cathkin Road, at the park’s southern boundary, or from Castlemilk's Ardencraig Road. From the right end of the car park follow a path parallel to the road heading towards the aerial seen above Big Wood to the north. On the woodland edge following the track left for about 65 metres to a path on the right leading into the wood. Follow this to a larger path, continuing ahead and keeping left at any main divisions, until the aerial and its buildings come into sight.
Continue in the woodland, crossing over a burn to regain the main path and exit on to the grass and Queen Mary’s Seat beyond.
At 192m, the trig point at the aerial is the highest point in the city with great views and a backdrop of Ben Lomond, Stob Binnein, Ben More and Ben Ledi.
Descend a gully in the escarpment and veer left to a lower path. Keep left Where it divides and go through a wall gap.
Continue ahead, the right turn offers a loop path which you join later, to a further division. Go right, left heads straight into Big Wood, and continue along the crest to join the loop path. Ascend past a stone gatepost to the main path in Big Wood and follow it on past a path leading back left to the car park. Soon after crossing the burn, leave the woodland for the prepared path on the left, following it to a junction. Turn left towards the car park, then right on to a ﬁeld path which leads to the top of Gallowhill. Descend the other side to cross Windlaw Road, now a pedestrian path from Carmunnock, and ascend a grassy path to Wind Law trig point (138m).
Return to the hill crest, then descend diagonally right to a gate in Carmunnock Road. Cross over on to a path between hedges, Pedmyre Lane, and follow this for 60 metres to the entrance to Carmunnock Copice Woodland, left. Follow the burn then ascend to skirt below houses to a gate on the village’s western edge. Cross Carmunnock Road and follow a grass path to a gap in the hedge.
Re-cross the tarmac path and ascend towards Gallowhill, veering right near the top to a grassy path heading to Carmunnock’s east end. Go through a hedge gap, then left above a marsh area to gain the main path leading to the carpark.

Cycle Route Map for Cathkin Braes Country Park

CATHKIN BRAES CYCLE ROUTE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Glasgow
Map: download from glasgow.gov.uk
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5km)
Time: about 30 minutes for one lap
Terrain: hilly; blue/red-graded singletrack

Developed for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games this is a much-needed addition to mountain bike trails in the Central Belt.
It doesn’t pull its punches and the inﬂuence of world-class track designer Phil Saxena is evident throughout, particularly in the fast second half of the 3.5-mile route. Cathkin Braes hosted its ﬁrst competition with the Scottish Cross Country Championship on the course designed as blue, with faster red (and some black) features. There is also a 750m warm-up green loop. For mere mortals, though, most of the technical features can be bypassed or ridden slowly with care.
Pedal out from the start past a wind turbine to the dramatic Propeller Point feature As its name suggests this will speed you into the waiting woods.
A large rocky drop follows before you whizz out to the head of Double Daxe — long bermed tracks with jumps.
Swinging east, Clyde Climb exerts the muscles to reach Rest and Be Thankful and superb views over the city. A woodland ridge,
to the left of a radio mast, leads across knobbly bedrock, Broken Biscuits.
Go through the tunnel for the serious boulder-studded Jouk. Now on velocity-inducing berms hold on to ﬂash through the woods. The Brig o’ Doom and several sharp turns will also raise a grin.